Tiger isn't family's only star guard

Thursday

Jan 10, 2013 at 12:01 AM

STOCKTON - Basketball season is a busy time for the Johnson family.

Jagdip Dhillon

STOCKTON - Basketball season is a busy time for the Johnson family.

Eugene and Veletta Johnson have the games of daughter Gena and son Darin filling out their weekly schedules. As Pacific's starting point guard, Gena has powered the Tigers (11-2, 1-0 Big West Conference) to a scintillating start as they visit UC Santa Barbara (5-9, 1-1) at 7 p.m. today. Her younger brother, Darin, is the starting shooting guard for Sacramento-Sheldon High and signed to play at Washington next season.

The Johnsons, who live in Elk Grove, spend Wednesday and Friday nights watching their son play around the Sacramento area and travel to watch Gena play throughout California throughout the season. Eugene is retired, while Veletta works a job that allows her to travel throughout the state and Northwest.

"It's amazing and I wouldn't have it any other way," Veletta said. "I'm humbly grateful to see both of them grow in basketball and in school."

Gena's growth has been one of the primary reasons for Pacific's early-season success. The junior is averaging 11.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, but her consistency is what has impressed coach Lynne Roberts the most. She has reached double-figures in scoring in seven consecutive games and 11 of 13 contests this season.

"She has become more consistent in her scoring and her understanding of where she can get her shots," Roberts said. "She's being athletic, explosive and attacking the rim in a controlled fashion. She's just maturing as the season goes on."

Gena said her second season as Pacific's point guard has been much easier than last season, when she first switched guard positions with senior Erica McKenzie.

"I'm more comfortable than I've ever been," Gena said. "Physically, it's easy for me to get to the bucket, but the challenging part has been those IQ plays and not getting two charges early every game and instead making the right reads."

The guard's physical prowess is also a major plus on the defensive end, where she averages 1.3 steals and 1.2 blocks per game. She honed her skills in co-ed games growing up, including many with Darin. Veletta said the siblings share a common trait on the court.

"They tended to get mad at each other all the time on the court when they were young," she said. "They were both very competitive."

There was also a lot of competition for Darin's services, as he received nine full scholarship offers from Pac-12 Conference schools and offers from around the country before he chose Washington, his mother said.